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Candidates for MLA 2025 Election
This year, MLA members will choose a President-Elect and three Members-at-Large.
The candidate for President-Elect will serve as MLA President in 2027 after serving for a year as President-Elect in 2026.
The Board Members-at-Large candidates will each serve a two-year term. They will serve as committee and communities of interest liaisons, as well as filling the role of Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, or Chair of the Membership Committee during their first year on the Board.
The voting deadline is August 29, 2025
President-Elect Candidates
| Katie Earnhardt Director, Cape Girardeau Public Library Katie Earnhart is the Library Director at Cape Girardeau Public Library in Cape Girardeau, MO. She has served in this position for seven years. Prior to taking over at CGPL she was the Director of Coffeyville Public Library (Coffeyville, KS) from 2013- 2018 and the MLS Program Director at the School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) at Emporia State University (Emporia, KS) from 2009-2013. Katie led the Cape Girardeau Public Library through a successful tax renewal in April 2025 and was named the 2024 Missouri Library Association Library of the Year. Katie is also very active in the library profession. During her time in Kansas she served on the planning committee for the 2015 joint conference between the Kansas Library Association and the Missouri Library Association, was elected to the KLA nominating committee in 2015 and 2017, and she served as Vice President of the executive board of the Southeast Kansas Regional Library System from 2015-2018. Since joining the Missouri library community, she has been serving on the MLA Legislative committee, as Treasurer/Treasurer-Elect of MLA in 2019-2021, President of the Missouri Public Library Directors in 2021-2022, an advisory board member of MALA since 2019, and she is currently serving as a Board Member-at-Large for the Missouri Evergreen Consortium. Katie earned her MLS degree from Emporia State University in 2009 and is a 2018 graduate of the Mountain Plains Library Association’s Leadership Institute. Candidate statement: It is hard to believe that I have been working in the library profession for 15 years; 12 of those years as a public library director. I am honored to have a place in this profession. Libraries play a vital role in any community, and I find myself awestruck to see and hear of the impact that we librarians make every day in the lives of our patrons. Even with this great impact, we can do more, serve more, and offer more. But we can’t do more if we don’t advocate for ourselves more. This is where the Missouri Library Association can help. My experience in the Missouri library world has allowed me to witness the importance of MLA, and I am excited to rejoin this organization to help Missouri librarians be better advocates for their libraries and their communities. |
| Robin Westphal Executive Director, Daniel Boone Regional Library Robin Westphal is the Executive Director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, MO Robin has served in that position since November of 2024. She recently served as Missouri’s state captain for the Voices for Libraries advocacy event in Washington, D.C for 2025. Prior to joining the DBRL team, Robin served as State Librarian for Missouri for 6 ½ years, where she served as Treasurer of the Western Council of State Librarians, ex-officio member of the Missouri Library Association and MOBIUS. Previous to her time at the Missouri State Library, Robin served as director of the Johnson City (TN) Public Library and spent the majority of her career as Director of the Livingston County Library in Chillicothe. During her tenure there, Robin served as president of the Missouri Public Library Directors and Grand River Library Conference. She also worked on the last two editions of the Missouri Public Library Standards. Robin has been a member of the Missouri Library Association, Public Library Association and American Library Association for most of her career. Candidate statement: I am honored to be a candidate for President-Elect of the Missouri Library Association. Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to advocating for libraries of all types and sizes across our state, and I believe now more than ever, we must come together as a unified and collaborative profession. If elected, I will work to strengthen the connections between those who serve in school, public, academic, and special libraries, fostering a shared sense of purpose and support. I am passionate about growing MLA’s role as a leader in helping to build connections for Missourians in the library field—not just for degreed librarians, but for everyone who contributes to the important work of libraries. As our profession continues to evolve and we face the possibility of reduced federal support, and challenges to current local funding streams, we must think collectively and creatively about how to sustain the vital programs and services our communities rely on. I am excited about the opportunity to continue the work of assuring that libraries in Missouri remain strong, resilient, and innovative. |
Member-at-Large Candidates |
| Nathan Elwood Library Administrator, Missouri Legislative Library Nathan Elwood is the Administrator of the Missouri Legislative Library, a law library and archive serving the legislators, staff, and constituents of the Missouri General Assembly, located inside the Capitol in Jefferson City. He has held this position since 2019. Nathan received his MLIS from the University of Missouri in 2016. While pursuing his MLIS, Nathan worked in the University of Missouri’s Ellis Library as a Graduate Reference Assistant, completed his practicum at Moniteau County Public Library, where he assisted with preparation toward a successful bond initiative, and worked at the library of Logan University, a small health sciences university in St. Charles, MO. Following completion of his program of study, Nathan worked at Forsyth Library, Fort Hays State University, as the Electronic Access Librarian from 2016 to 2019. Nathan has been a member of the Missouri Library Association Board since January 2024, and served as Secretary in 2024. Nathan has also been a member in good standing of the Kansas Library Association, Association for Rural and Small Libraries, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the NCSL Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section. Candidate statement: I have been proud to have served on the Missouri Library Association Board, and to have been part of the work done by our association to advocate for libraries, provide educational opportunities for library workers, and create networking and development opportunities within our shared profession and community. I was particularly proud of the work I had the opportunity to do as Secretary, which allowed me to learn a tremendous amount about the structure of our association, and to aid in developing sustainable practices and infrastructure for its ongoing future. In a second term of service on the Board, I intend to continue to advocate for rural and small libraries, special libraries, and library workers of all types. I believe that the Missouri Library Association is critical as a shared resource for our profession in this state, and I would be honored to continue service with the Board for an additional term. |
| Rebecca Buckley Director, Rolla Public Library Rebecca Buckley has served as the Library Director of the Rolla Public Library for six years; she served as the Assistant Director there for one year prior to her promotion. Before that she worked in bookstores for eight years and then taught as a High School Library Media Specialist in the Ferguson-Florissant School District beginning in 1997. Rebecca earned her BA in English from Missouri Baptist University in 1994 then returned to complete her teaching certificate in English as well as her Library Media Certification in 1996. She received her MLIS from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign in 2013. She has served over the years on numerous school, library and community committees, project initiatives, focus groups and grant-writing teams. She considers herself a team-player and a good communicator who often brings a positive outlook and a unique perspective to groups. She has been a proud member of the Missouri Library Association, the American Library Association, the Association of Rural and Small Libraries and the Public Library Association throughout her long career in libraries. Candidate statement: I appreciate being asked to run for a spot on the MLA board! I would be honored to be able to serve on the board by keeping all types of library workers and libraries in mind when doing the vital work of advocacy in Missouri. Libraries are essential hubs of information, connection and support for all sectors in our communities, and I feel privileged to have spent my life’s work furthering this mission. I have learned so much about communicating to a wide variety of folks in my advocacy for LIBRARIES -which is really advocacy for PEOPLE- and the importance of letting my shaking voice be heard in difficult situations. I’d love to use some of the knowledge and people skills I have acquired to help support our tremendous Missouri Library Association and all types of Missouri library workers as well. |
| Mardi Mahaffy Head of Teaching and Learning, University of Missouri Kansas City Mardi Mahaffy is the Head of Teaching and Learning at the University of Missouri Kansas City. As a Humanities Liaison Librarian for much of her career, her study and efforts centered on effectively building students' information literacy skills through reference and instruction. She taught both credit courses and numerous individual instruction sessions in face-to face and online environments, devising innovative ways to engage students. She has published and given award winning presentations in faculty venues about effective research assignment design. Ms. Mahaffy now focuses on bringing empathetic leadership to the oversight of reference and instruction programs. She is committed to the important role librarians play in student success and lifelong learning and takes pleasure in supporting and developing librarians in this crucial work. Ms. Mahaffy has previously served as the Chair of ALA's Library Instruction Round Table, the Chair of ALA's Core New Members Interest Group, and the Chair of the Missouri Chapter of ACRL. She is a long-term member of MLA. Candidate statement: Libraries are facing challenges on many fronts across our nation, from intellectual freedom to funding cuts, and more. While there are multiple opportunities for service within our profession, I suspect work at the local/regional levels may ultimately have the most impact. I would be honored to serve on the MLA Board in order to support this work. My goal as a board member would be foremost to listen to all types of librarians throughout Missouri to best understand our immediate and overarching needs. I look forward to using my voice to address our shared concerns, benefiting Missouri libraries and library workers. |
| Alexis Long Cape Girardeau Public Library Starting her career as an adjunct Writing educator in colleges around Missouri, Alexis has found her fate constantly thrown in with libraries, finding part-time work in them time and again between teaching classes. Her passions slowly moved more and more to that work, until she went back to school, got her MLIS, and finally ended up working at the public library she grew up borrowing books from as a kid. With experience working in Academic libraries at a State and Community College level, as well as now over a year of Public Library work at Cape Girardeau Public Library, she brings her all to the Reference Desk and Adult Services, focusing especially on technical support and building community through programs for local college-aged patrons Candidate statement: I am running for this position because working in libraries I have found assistance and camaraderie in a way I never have before. MLA has been a central part of that, keeping me connected and helping my career. I also joined CGPL during a time of intense censorship challenges against books that reflect the voices of the minority groups I help every single day. I want to be part of the solution to raise those voices louder, and make sure that Missouri Libraries are a place for everyone, as I always found them to be as a kid, a struggling sad teen, and now an adult trying to do right in my community. |
| Jennifer France Thompson Associate University Librarian, University of Missouri Jennifer (Jenny) France Thompson is Associate University Librarian for Acquisitions, Collections, and Technical Services at the University of Missouri. She previously served as Electronic Resources Librarian for the four campuses of the University of Missouri System. She additionally spent time as the Technology Consultant at the Missouri State Library where she reviewed Technology Grant applications and managed projects such as Missouri Evergreen and Remote Electronic Access for Libraries. She has also worked at the American College of Building Arts, City of Charleston Records Management, Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library, and the Mint Museum of Art. Jenny was co-coordinator for the 2023 MLA Conference and currently serves on the Awards Committee. Candidate statement: I value my Missouri Library Association membership. I have benefited personally from networking, the skills I’ve learned at MLA events, and my personal experience budgeting, planning, and coordinating the MLA Conference in 2023. I've also benefitted from both searching and recruiting via Jobline. Moreover, I am immensely thankful for the legislative and inclusivity work that MLA Leadership has undertaken for libraries and the library profession. I would like the opportunity to deepen my contribution to the Association. My experience in supporting the needs and priorities of academic, public, and special libraries gives me a perspective that would help me support all Missouri Libraries. If elected, I will do my best to make sure MLA is meeting the professional needs of its diverse membership, and I will advocate for Missouri Libraries. |
| Devon Smith Adult Services and Programming Librarian, Daniel Boone Regional Library – Callaway County Public Library Devon Smith is the Adult Services and Programming Librarian at the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton, MO, part of the Daniel Boone Regional Library system. She joined DBRL in early 2024 after more than a decade at the Longmont Public Library in Longmont, Colorado, where she led the Homebound Program, managed digital resources, and hosted adult programs. With over 15 years of public library experience, Devon brings a strong track record in program development, outreach, volunteer coordination, and collection strategy. She holds an MLIS from the University of Oklahoma and has also worked in academic libraries and adult education. Devon has previously served on various committees and is committed to libraries that are equitable, responsive, and rooted in the real lives of their communities. Candidate statement: I’m running for the MLA Board because I believe deeply in the everyday power of libraries — and the people who make them work. Whether you’re planning programs, managing chaos at the desk, or trying to stretch a budget to meet growing needs, the work we do matters. I want to help MLA continue to show up for library staff across the state with practical tools, strong advocacy, and space to share ideas and learn from each other. I bring collaborative energy, a no-nonsense approach, and a passion for making sure our libraries stay inclusive, accessible, and grounded in community needs. If elected, I’ll work hard to represent our collective voice and help move Missouri libraries forward. |
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